Read & explore together
All Scripture Is God-Breathed
Paul reminds Timothy what he has already seen and learned: faithful teaching, real suffering, and the lasting value of the Scriptures. This passage explains why Timothy should keep going and what Scripture is given to do.
Understanding the passage
The setting of these words
In this part of the letter, Paul speaks directly to Timothy about what Timothy has followed in Paul’s life and teaching. The passage contrasts faithful endurance with growing deception, then points Timothy back to the holy Scriptures and describes their God-given purpose.
2 Timothy 3:10–17Main takeaway
This passage teaches that believers should continue in the truth they have learned, because Scripture is God-breathed and equips God’s people for good works.
Follow the letter’s teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Timothy had seen Paul’s teaching and characterPaul begins with what Timothy already knows. He had followed Paul’s teaching and also Paul’s conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, and steadfastness.
Explanation
Paul begins with what Timothy already knows. He had followed Paul’s teaching and also Paul’s conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, and steadfastness. This means the message and the manner of life belonged together. Paul points to a pattern Timothy has observed, not a new idea introduced here.
02Suffering is part of godly livingPaul includes persecutions and sufferings among the things Timothy knows, naming Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra.
Explanation
Paul includes persecutions and sufferings among the things Timothy knows, naming Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. He says he endured them and that the Lord delivered him. Then he broadens the point: all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. This passage presents hardship as a real expectation.
03Timothy must remain while deception growsPaul contrasts two directions. Evil men and impostors will grow worse, deceiving others and also being deceived.
Explanation
Paul contrasts two directions. Evil men and impostors will grow worse, deceiving others and also being deceived. Timothy, however, is told to remain in what he has learned and been assured of. He is to remember the people from whom he learned it, showing the importance of trustworthy teaching.
04The holy Scriptures lead and equipFrom infancy, Timothy has known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make him wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
Explanation
From infancy, Timothy has known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make him wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Paul then says every Scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness. The result is that the person who belongs to God is complete and equipped for every good work.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01Which qualities in Paul does this passage say Timothy had followed, and why does that matter in reading the rest of the paragraph?
Look carefully at the list in verse 10 and notice that Paul points to both teaching and conduct before speaking about suffering and Scripture.
02How does Paul contrast the future of evil men and impostors with what Timothy is told to do?
Compare the words about growing worse and deceiving in verse 13 with the command to remain in what has been learned in verse 14.
03According to these verses, what are the Scriptures able to do, and what are they profitable for?
Gather the phrases from verses 15 to 17, including wisdom for salvation, teaching, reproof, correction, instruction in righteousness, and being equipped for good work.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
2 Timothy 3:10–17
10But you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, steadfastness,
11persecutions, and sufferings—those things that happened to me at Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. I endured those persecutions. The Lord delivered me out of them all.
12Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
13But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.
14But you remain in the things which you have learned and have been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them.
15From infancy, you have known the holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness,
17that each person who belongs to God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.